there is a very interesting assertion inRaymond Francois' monumental collection of cajun songs "Ye Yaille Chere". Apropos of the similarity of the tune "Valse a Belisaire" to "The Hills of Roane Country", Francois observes, rather smugly: "I'm proud to say that we don't have any folksongs about murder and killings in our culture".
   Well, i could quiblle with him on the detail, I can think of one or two, but broadly speaking I'm sure he's right in drawing this distinction between Cajun and English-speaking American folksongs. Now the question this poses must have great relevance to the endless debate about guns, American disposition to violence, influence of media on peoples' behaviour etc etc. Is there, in fact, any difference in murder rate/violent crime statistics between French and English speaking Louisiana? anybody ever heard any talk about this?